Damien Holt MSc, MSyI

Senior Security & Resilience Executive | Enterprise Security Strategy | Crisis Leadership | Global Risk Governance | ISO 31000 | ISO 31030 | ISO 22301 | 22340 | MSyI | PMP

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

About

Senior Security and Resilience Executive with 27 years of global leadership experience, operating across extractives, oil and gas, government, data centres, industrial manufacturing and critical infrastructure sectors. I build and lead enterprise security, risk and resilience functions that protect multi-billion-dollar asset portfolios, reduce operational loss exposure and deliver measurable financial optimisation at scale across complex multinational environments. What makes my background unusual at this level is the range. I combine board-level governance experience with genuine technical and engineering foundations built from the ground up, from electrical apprentice through project engineer, operations leader, P&L director and global enterprise head. That progression means I can advise a CEO on enterprise risk strategy and interrogate a system design or procurement contract. Passionate about building high-performing, diverse teams, developing enterprise-wide training and capacity-building programs, and embedding a culture of security excellence. Selected career highlights: • $35M+ cost optimisation delivered across a global security programme at Holcim Group • $5M+ in loss exposure reduced through enterprise threat, vulnerability and controls governance • Crisis leadership for 70,000 employees across 70+ countries during COVID-19 • AI-enabled surveillance deployed across five countries, achieving ~15% operational savings • $100M programme directed as lead Programme Director for Saudi Customs mobile scanning • Division profitability transformed from 6% to 15% at Restrata on a $70-80M revenue portfolio • 20+ country governance audits conducted, 100% of findings remediated or under active plans • 5,000+ employees and third parties trained across crisis, resilience and loss prevention frameworks

Experience

  • Head of Design Program Management at Progress Security Systems
    May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

  • Head of Asset Security, Group Security & Resilience at Holcim
    Feb 2020 - Apr 2026 · 6 yrs 3 mos

    Group role leading global Physical Security, Technology Enablement, Business Resilience and Crisis Management across a multinational portfolio of 3,000+ operational sites in 43 markets (CHF 15.7bn net sales, 45,000+ employees). • Delivered $35M+ in cost optimisation through contract renegotiation with 400+ security providers, risk-based guard force optimisation and technology substitution • Reduced loss exposure by $5M+ through enterprise threat and vulnerability management, structured incident reporting and deployment of physical, technical and administrative controls, with primary impact across African operations • Governed a multi-billion-dollar global asset portfolio (CHF 9.19B) across 3,000+ sites and 43 markets • Designed and deployed AI-enabled surveillance across five countries, achieving approximately 15% operational savings with zero Lost Time Injuries via zonal alert configurations • Developed drone detection design and training frameworks in Iraq and Qatar in response to identified aerial threat profiles • Built enterprise protective security architecture aligned to ISO 22340, ISO 22341 and ISO 22301 • Directed 24/7 global crisis management structures including COVID-19 response across 70,000 employees in 70+ countries • Conducted 20+ country-level governance audits with all findings closed or under active remediation within 3–6 months • Governed 400+ security providers and 2,500+ contracted personnel globally • Designed and rolled out training across loss prevention, asset security, crisis management and business resilience, reaching 5,000+ employees and third parties over six years

  • Head Of Security Solutions and Services at Siemens
    Jul 2018 - Jan 2020 · 1 yr 7 mos

    Led security strategy and technical governance across the Building Technologies Division, covering the UK, Ireland and the Nordic region. • Increased gross margins by 5% through portfolio optimisation and regional supply chain rationalisation • Held commercial approval authority for bids exceeding $500,000; governed major programmes including National Grid and Harrods • Streamlined vendor governance and standardised service delivery across a multi-country portfolio

  • Security Systems Specialist Manager at Abaja Contracting Establishment
    Oct 2017 - Jul 2018 · 10 mos

    Led design and implementation of integrated security and traffic management systems for Saudi Aramco's Jizan Economic City (JEC) mega-project (total project value approximately £20M). • Directed 50+ technicians, designers, engineers and network specialists across the full project lifecycle from design through commissioning and handover • Provided training, leadership and procedural oversight for 400+ Saudi national security guards and control room operators • Achieved zero HSE incidents during commissioning; security personnel intercepted a potential security threat through vehicle inspection procedures • Delivered on time and on budget to all Saudi Aramco QA/QC specifications • Directed engineering teams utilising BIM tools for camera sightline modelling and coverage simulation

  • Project Consultant at Multiple
    Jul 2016 - Sep 2017 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Consulting for Asymetra Security (UAE)